In a tragic incident, highlighting the onion crisis in Andhra Pradesh, a 65-year-old man waiting in the queue to purchase subsidized onions at the rythu bazaar collapsed and died allegedly due to cardiac arrest. The incident took place on Monday in Gudiwada town of Krishna district.
The victim was identified as Sambi Reddy. According to reports, Reddy was waiting in the serpentine queue at Gudiwada Rythu Bazar to buy the subsidized onions which are being sold by the government for Rs 25 against the open market price of Rs 100. Reddy collapsed at around 10.30 am. Though he was shifted to a hospital, he was declared brought dead. The victim had previously undergone bypass surgery.
Due to the price-rise of onions, across the state, the rythu bazaars are witnessing serpentine queues to avail the subsidized onions. At some places, a stampede-like situation is being reported. The Andhra Pradesh government has spent nearly Rs 10 crore and bought 16,000 quintals of onions from Maharashtra. The subsidized onions are distributed through Rythu Bazars – markets where people can buy directly from the farmers – for a cheaper rate.
Following the death of Sambi Reddy, Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan lashed out at the Jagan-led government.
Taking to Twitter, in a series of tweets, he wrote, “It would have been better if the Jagan-led YSRCP government focussed on people’s needs and farmer’s plight, and not religious conversions, demolitions and cancelling contracts.”
శ్రీ జగన్ రెడ్డి గారు నేతృత్వంలో నడుస్తున్న వైసీపీ ప్రభుత్వం మతమార్పిళ్లు, కూల్చివేతలు , కాంట్రాక్టు రద్దులు మీద పెట్టిన దృష్టి ,సగటు ప్రజల అవసరాలు మీద, రైతుల కష్టాల మీద పెట్టుంటే బాగుండేది... pic.twitter.com/T1bjJ9TGTf
— Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) December 9, 2019
Collosal failure of AP Civil supplies & marketing ministry. When YCP focus is on demolition& kicking out investors from the state, then this is what happens to the common man. pic.twitter.com/k36lOGR7Ir
— Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) December 9, 2019
మీరు ప్రజలని క్యూలలో నుంచోపెట్టి చంపేకంటే , మీరు నియమించిన గ్రామ వాలంటీర్లను ఉపయోగించి ,ప్రజలు ఇళ్ల దగ్గరికే కిలో 25 రూపాయలకే ఉల్లిపాయల సరఫరా ఎందుకు చేయట్లేదో, Sri Jagan Reddy గారు వివరణ ఇవ్వాలి pic.twitter.com/J726DVYFsy
— Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) December 9, 2019
“Colossal failure of AP Civil supplies & marketing ministry. When YCP focus is on demolition & kicking out investors from the state, then this is what happens to the common man,” he added.
Pawan also said, “Instead of making people stand in queues and killing them, You can use the grama volunteers who you had appointed to distribute onions for Rs 25 at households.”
Similarly, the opposition Telugu Desam Party, protested against the onion price-rise in front of the Assembly while the session was going on.
General secretary of TDP Nara Lokesh alleged that the subsidized onions aren't reaching people.
He demanded the government to regulate the prices and ensure that onions are available at a cheaper price.
కేజీ ఉల్లి కోసం రాష్ట్రంలో మహిళలు పడుతున్న కష్టాలను, ప్రభుత్వం దృష్టికి తీసుకెళ్లేందుకు అసెంబ్లీ ఎదురుగా ధర్నా నిర్వహించాం. ఉల్లి కోసం మహిళలు క్యూ లైన్లలో నిలబడి సొమ్మసిల్లుతున్నారు. ప్రభుత్వం గొప్పగా చెప్పుకుంటున్న సబ్సిడీ ఉల్లి ప్రజలకు అందడం లేదు. (1/2)#OnionPriceHike pic.twitter.com/k84tkiI8No
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) December 9, 2019
Speaking to media, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu said, “Onion prices have risen to the level of gold prices and the state government has failed to reduce the price. Our fight will continue until the prices of onion come down.”
పెరిగిన ఉల్లి ధరలకు నిరసనగా తెదేపా నేతలతో కలిసి నిరసన తెలిపిన చంద్రబాబు మాట్లాడుతూ... రాష్ట్రంలో ఉల్లిధరలు బంగారంతో సమానంగా ఉన్నాయన్నారు. వైసీపీ ప్రభుత్వం వచ్చాక నిత్యావసర ధరలు విపరీతంగా పెరిగిపోయాయని, మరోవైపు రైతులకు గిట్టుబాటు ధరలు దక్కడం లేదని అన్నారు.#APAssembly#OnionPrices pic.twitter.com/QWoFK9zmW3
— Telugu Desam Party (@JaiTDP) December 9, 2019